Reigning Premier League champions Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme saluted their fans last night with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Rendezvous and in the process handed the Christ Church side their first defeat of the 2015 season.
In the other two matches played Mackeson Brittons Hill striker Dwayne Stanford wore his golden boots well to score a beaver-trick which propelled his team to a 5-1 thrashing of Solaris Pinelands. Meanwhile Silver Sands finally ended their winless season when they defeated Pride of Gall Hill 2-1.
Dwayne Stanford (right) being congratulated by teammate Curtis Odle.
It was a night of magnificent football and fans who turned out in their numbers at the Wildey, St Michael Astro Turf to see the featured game in the Digicel-sponsored Barbados Football Association Premier League triple-header definitely got their monies worth.
The BDFSP who are now in third position on 13 points in the standings wasted no time shaking the nets early in the third minute when Baggio Harewood who was given too much space by Rendezvous’ defense ran the ball down the right flank and made a clean pass inside the box where striker Jamal Chandler was patiently waiting and scored with his right instep.
That goal caused many fans to wait for Rendezvous’ response but instead they were silenced even more when BDFSP captain Romario Harewood carried his team up 2-0 in the 16th minute when he collected a searching ball and nailed it into the back of the nets from inside the 18-yard box past Rendezvous goalkeeper Kerry Holder.
Rendezvous goal-scorer Ramar Miller (left) tries to get his boot on to the ball and away from BDFSP goal-scorer and captain, Romario Harewood.
Rendezvous had to dig deep if they were to make a comeback and they did exactly that compliments defender Ramar Millar just before the end of half-time. A curling ball from the right corner by midfielder Romano Snagg in the 43rd minute found the forehead of Millar who managed to squeeze it past BDFSP goalkeeper Dario Weir.
Miron Samuels provided inspiration in the 47th minute of the second half when Snagg with his fast pace managed to run his way down the right flank and placed the ball through BDFSP’s defensive duo of Ricardo Morris and Akeene Browne and over to Samuels who scored his ninth goal of the league season and levelled the game at 2-2.
Rendezvous were back in it once more and one would have thought with their fast play and accurate passing they would have found that all important goal and take control but the soldiers with their young vibrant team had a different plan in mind. BDFSP worked the ball up the right of the field thanks to a combination of good passes and striker Chad Lloyd who was just inside the 18-yard box managed to hammer the ball past keeper Holder.
Yet again Rendezvous were made to come from behind and yet again they showed that perseverance hardly fails when in the 76th minute midfielder Emerald George scored a spectacular goal off a free kick which was taken about more than 20-yards out. It was a well struck shot which went over the heads of the BDFSP defensive wall and their goalkeeper was unable to get any kind of gloves to it.
With a couple minutes remaining both sides went in search of that all important winning goal and it came off the heroic boot of BDFSP striker Shaquille Boyce in the 81st minute when he seized a great opportunity to score after a fumble in front the bars.
In the other games Brittons Hill’s Stanford showed his class with goals in the 11th, 53rd, 58th and 60th minutes while Jermaine Forde got in on the action when he scored a late goal in the 90th. Pinelands captain Arantees Lawrence captured the lone goal for his team in the 20th minute.
Silver Sands earned themselves three points thanks to Rico Forde and Cleon Gully who scored in the 20th and 27th minute respectively while Rico Graham scored for Gall Hill in the 43rd.